Mosquito Control

As West Nile continues to expand in North America, a considerable amount of interest is being generated by the new devices designed to attract, then either trap or kill, mosquitoes. Their goal is to significantly reduce or even collapse local mosquito populations by decreasing the number of egg-laying (and blood-sucking) females.

According to the American Mosquito Control Association, advertising claims for acre-wide control “may be somewhat overstated, in most cases being based upon best-case extrapolations… Nonetheless, these devices will indeed trap and kill measurable numbers of mosquitoes. Whether this will produce a noticeable reduction in the mosquito population in your case will depend upon your tolerance level, absolute mosquito population size, proximity, size and type of breeding habitat producing re-infestation, wind velocity and direction and species of mosquito present”.

A new aggressive species of mosquito is turning up in Portland and it’s known to carry the West Nile Virus.

The county is setting up 150 mosquito traps all across the Multnomah county. Ecologists are looking to test all mosquitos found in this area but are specifically looking for the Rock Pool mosquito.

It’s a particularly aggressive species native to Asia known to carry West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever and Encephalitis. It was first discovered in Multnomah county five years ago but is spreading.

And don’t think it comes out just at night.

“It’s a day biter which we do have some day biters in this area but adding one more day biter to the mix that can carry West Nile Virus has potential for disease transmission that we’re concerned with,” says Multnomah County Vector ecologist Carl Pierce. Read more

In an article in the Vancouver Sun there’s a report on the biggest lab breakthrough against mosquitoes in years. Scientists said they had identified odour molecules that baffle the bloodthirsty insects. The molecules disrupt carbon-dioxide sensors that alert mosquitoes to exhaled breath, which signals the presence of a human nearby, the team reported. The work could lead to revolutionary but low-cost repellents to confuse, deter or trap mosquitoes, it said.

The mosquitoes are out in the neighborhood. Who ya gonna call? Mosquitobusters! As warm weather approaches, our little blood-sucking nemeses come out of the bushes and attempt to eat us humans alive. This year, declare Operation Mosquito Wipeout on them with the Mega-Catch Four Attractant Mosquito Trap.

Similar in style to the ghost trap in the Ghostbusters flicks but with a beefy, military edge, this lean, mean mosquito-fighting machine is a bug zapper on steroids. Taking care of business across one acre, the 17-pound (7.7-kg.) trap’s LED light oscillates at a frequency irresistible to mosquitoes and emits vibrations that lure them in like a song of the sirens. As if that weren’t enough, this bad boy outsmarts the lil’ vamps by producing infrared heat to simulate human body temperature. source

Pharmacies and supermarkets abound with chemical-based mosquito repellents, but not all are effective and chemical-based repellents outnumber natural repellents. However if you are not comfortable applying or spraying mosquito repellents on your body and clothing, try mosquito traps.

Mosquito traps are intended to attract mosquitoes and get them trapped or killed. Mosquito traps emit odor or substances that attract female mosquitoes. Among the “baits” used in most brands are moisture, heat, carbon dioxide, and other sorts of byproducts. Mosquito traps can be an effective means of controlling mosquito populations if placed in breeding areas. source

Medical experts at a seminar held in Islamabad on Wednesday called for taking preventive measures to fight dengue virus. “Dengue infection is here to stay and its patients will increase in number unless breeding places for mosquitoes are eliminated” said Dr Arroj, Director Health of Capital Development Authority.

The virus is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito and the best way to eliminate mosquitoes is to eliminate breeding places. Attendees were given the message that the use of sprays, mosquito repellants and mosquito traps are the only ways to prevent dengue viral fever.